Ender’s Game: Chapter 9 Summary & Analysis

Graff and one of his subordinates, Major Imbu, have a conversation about Ender’s psychological development. Neither can explain how a picture of Ender’s brother appeared in a video game. Imbu suggests that the game was designed to test the players’ psychological weaknesses—the game has merely picked up on Ender’s biggest fear. Graff wonders if Ender has been reduced to self-hatred because of his acts of violence. He also points out that the picture of Peter in the game is very recent—somebody back on Earth must have gotten a new image of Peter and sent it to the Battle School.

Back on Earth, Valentine Wiggin celebrates Ender’s eighth birthday alone. Her family has moved to Greensboro, North Carolina, and has seemingly forgotten all about Ender, even though it’s only been a year and a half since he left. Valentine, however, continues to love Ender more than anyone or anything. She notes that Peter has seemingly become calmer and more mature—but Valentine has also seen evidence that Peter is secretly violent and sociopathic. She even found a live squirrel, trapped and skinned. In school, Peter flatters his teachers, though he secretly despises them.

One day, Valentine is walking through the woods near her house when Peter approaches her. Peter makes an interesting point: the world is preparing for war. If the Buggers are defeated, there will be a massive struggle for power in the following years. Russia is led by the aggressive Polemarch, meaning that Russia might be the most dangerous national power. Peter has been monitoring troop movements in Russia, and has concluded that the country is ready for war at any time. Although America is still the world’s dominant superpower, its old political alliances will be meaningless once the Buggers are killed.

Peter proposes to Valentine that they can use their intelligence to influence global politics and keep the world safe. Although they’re only children, they write like adults. Peter reminds Valentine of the people who changed history using only their words: Demosthenes, Pericles, Thomas Paine, Lenin, etc. If he and Valentine could disguise their identities as children by writing anonymously, then they could begin consolidating power.

As they walk through the woods, Peter asks Valentine to ask Father to give his children his “citizen’s access,” which will enable Peter and Valentine to write anonymous articles and circulate them around the world via the Internet. As Peter talks to Valentine, his voice becomes gentle and soft. He explains that he has the power to bring peace and security to the world: a Pax Americana, in which free speech and human rights are respected. Although he always bullied Ender, he says he’s also capable of love and affection—and he’ll bring the same love and affection to government. As Valentine listens to Peter, she’s amazed that he’s speaking so sincerely, rather than adopting his usual sarcastic tone. She wonders if Peter is being truthful or not—it’s impossible for her to tell. Valentine reminds Peter of the squirrel he tortured, and as she speaks, Peter begins to weep. Valentine is surprised—she’s never seen her brother show so much weakness. She then realizes what Peter is doing: he’s “saved” his weakness for years, knowing that he’ll need it to be able to manipulate Valentine at the perfect time. Knowing she has no choice, Valentine agrees to help Peter.

In the coming weeks, Valentine succeeds in convincing Father to give his children internet access. Peter and Valentine begin writing articles and posting them anonymously. They read the writing of famous journalists, and improve their own. After a few months, Peter and Valentine conclude that they’ve developed voices sophisticated enough to keep permanently. Peter instructs Valentine to write only on certain Internet websites, and to use a deliberately inflammatory style. Peter, by contrast, will be more measured and balanced in his tone. Then, Peter and Valentine plan to “debate” one another online. Very slowly, Peter and Valentine notice that their ideas and talking points are trickling into mainstream journalism. Peter names his online persona Locke, while Valentine calls hers Demosthenes.

Seven months after Peter and Valentine begin writing as Locke and Demosthenes, “Demosthenes” has received an invitation from a major publication to write full-time. Peter instructs Valentine to accept, on the condition that her identity is kept anonymous. With a new writing gig, Valentine begins writing more inflammatory pieces about the menace that the Russians pose to world peace. She calls for all nations to uncover their hidden intelligence, creating a free flow of information. Peter is pleased that Demosthenes is calling for conflict and even war—when the moment is right, he plans to have Demosthenes change his tone and call for compromise.

Valentine notices that her parents have begun reading Demosthenes’ column, and even quote it at diner. Shortly afterwards, “Locke” is asked to write a weekly column for another major news network. Peter plans to write intelligent, measured responses to Demosthenes’ columns, creating an atmosphere of uncertainty in the world of politics.

The chapter then cuts back to the Battle School. Ender has been the leading soldier in the battleroom for many months. He’s nine years old, and a toon leader in the Phoenix Army, which is led by Petra Arkanian. He’s respected and admired by nearly everyone in Battle School—but this sometimes frustrates him. While he continues to practice with his old friends, Shen and Alai, he’s noticed that they think of him as a different “kind” of person than they are. He’s a celebrity in Battle School—never just a kid.

In his free time, Ender plays the Giant game. He journeys to a strange place called the End of the World. There, he sees a big public square lined with heavy stones. He pulls away one of the stones, and finds himself drowning in water. He also notices a mirror, in which he can see Peter’s face.

Back on Earth, more than a year after beginning her career as an incognito journalist, Valentine is walking to school. She notices a group of IF soldiers standing outside the building, and wonders if they’re here to give her news about Ender. Then it occurs to her that they could be coming to arrest her for her writings as Demosthenes. In recent months, she’s become both acclaimed and hated for her radical views on politics.

Valentine goes to class, where she finds a message telling her to go to the principle’s office immediately. She does so, and finds Colonel Graff waiting for her. Graff reminds Valentine that they met years ago (on the day Graff convinced Ender to leave Earth). Graff greets Valentine, and immediately tells her that Ender is doing fine. This relieves Valentine, because she assumed Graff was there to tell her about her brother. Graff invites Valentine to walk outside and talk.

Outside, Graff tells Valentine why he’s here: Ender is doing brilliantly at Battle School, but he’s been slumping lately, and needs something to inspire him. He describes the Giant game that Ender plays, and mentions the images of Peter that Ender repeatedly sees. Valentine points out that Ender and Peter are polar opposites—Peter is a hateful, violent boy, while Ender is peaceful. As Valentine explains herself, she thinks of how she’s allied herself with Peter, the very person she hates. In spite of herself, she begins to cry.

Graff watches Valentine crying, and tries to calm her by agreeing with her: he claims he doesn’t think Ender is like Peter at all. He asks Valentine to help Ender by writing him a letter in which she assures him that he’s a good person. Graff reveals the truth: while Valentine has sent Ender dozens of letters, Ender was never allowed to read them. Graff bids farewell to Valentine, leaving it unclear whether she’ll write the letter or not.

The narrative cuts back to Ender at Battle School. He receives a letter from Valentine. In the letter, Valentine tells Ender she’s tried to write him hundreds of times before this. She adds that Ender is a good person—unlike “you know who.” She makes an inside joke about paddling a “canoe,” and misspells “psychoanalyze.” Ender considers the letter. Although it’s clearly written by the real Valentine (hence the misspellings and inside jokes), it’s not “real,” since the IF clearly made her write it. Ender feels his body fill with sadness, and he realizes that he has no true control over his own life.

Frustrated by Valentine’s letter, Ender goes to play the Giant game. He returns to the End of the World, and sees Peter’s face in the mirror. Then it occurs to him that the IF has forced Valentine to write the letter because they already know about his fear of Peter. Instead of signing off, Ender continues to play the game. He sees a large snake slithering on the ground, and tries to attack it. Then he changes his mind and kisses the snake. The snake transforms into Valentine, and Valentine kisses him on the cheek. Together, they walk toward the mirror, which no longer shows Peter’s face. With a gentle touch, Ender breaks the mirror, revealing a long stairway, through which he’s free to walk. Ender has finally broken through the End of the World.

Shortly after meeting with Graff, Valentine receives a letter from General Shimon Levy, the Strategos (who is implied to be the leader of America). The letter informs her that her “operation” has been a complete success, and she has been awarded the highest military award granted to civilians. Valentine realizes what she’s done: she’s “sold her brother and been paid for it.” That night, Valentine, as Demosthenes, writes a long critique of the government’s population laws. She concludes with the line, “The most noble title any child can have is Third,” which amuses Peter greatly.